Apparently I dream of trilogies as well! This next game HAD to be here. It is one of my favorite Xbox games.
Name: Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors
Genre: Action Hack n' Slash
Developer: From Software
Composer: Kota Hoshino
Release Year: 2004
System: Original Xbox
I think this game should get a sequel because of it's down right beautiful style and wonderful destruction. If you have read the last two post, you know how this goes. Here's the story first.
Related Articles
Story
based on the Japanese myth of Ooeyama
Players assumed the role of Raikoh Minamoto, the undead warrior charged with the task of vanquishing the demonic infestation that plagued Japan's sacred capital. Continuing where the original left off, Otogi 2 puts players in the role of Raikoh, who is summoned once again to destroy the invading demons. This time however, he's not alone, and with the help of some new allies, Raikoh and his loyal followers will set out to destroy the demons once and for all and prevent darkness from consuming the world.
Pretty straight-forward. Here comes the fun part!
based on the Japanese myth of Ooeyama
Players assumed the role of Raikoh Minamoto, the undead warrior charged with the task of vanquishing the demonic infestation that plagued Japan's sacred capital. Continuing where the original left off, Otogi 2 puts players in the role of Raikoh, who is summoned once again to destroy the invading demons. This time however, he's not alone, and with the help of some new allies, Raikoh and his loyal followers will set out to destroy the demons once and for all and prevent darkness from consuming the world.
Pretty straight-forward. Here comes the fun part!
Destruction
If you break it, they will come!
If you break it, they will come!
Otogi 1 was the first game that I know of that had destruction on this kind of scale. Then came around Otogi 2 which kept it up very well. I am not talking about knocking an enemy through a crate and see it break kind of destruction, I am talking about knock a guy into and through a wall kind of destruction! After that, proceeding to smack him into every wall,ceiling,box,pot and pillar that holds up the building you are in. Or in one stage(I think it was a mini game of sorts) where you had to smash enemies into ships, destroying them!
This to me was next gen power put to work. Not only could you destroy just about anything, the game looked Beautiful! There was nothing better then hard slashing an enemy into a room full of other enemies,pots and pillars and watching it all explode from the sheer force of the blow! You could also slam enemies into the ground, creating a crater each time!
This to me was next gen power put to work. Not only could you destroy just about anything, the game looked Beautiful! There was nothing better then hard slashing an enemy into a room full of other enemies,pots and pillars and watching it all explode from the sheer force of the blow! You could also slam enemies into the ground, creating a crater each time!
Gameplay
Raikoh is not alone this time
Raikoh is not alone this time
The Cool thing that Otogi 2 had over 1 was multiple playable characters. There was Raikoh, Tsuna(He is in the video below),Sadamistu, Kintoki, Seimei and Suetake. Each had their own strengths and weaknesses. You could feel the difference when playing one character over another. For example, Playing Kintoki who is slow but very powerful, then switching over to Sadamistu who is fast but doesn't deal as much dmg. Not only do their stats differ, but they also each have their own customizable spells(though Seimei and Suetake have the best magical dmg).
Last cool thing about the characters is that they have 3 different weapons each(Raikoh has 4) and 3 costumes.
Otogi 2's combat system maybe be considered generic hack n slash gameplay, but they way it was implemented into the destruction made it feel so much greater then the norm. You had your quick light attacks and your slower but powerful heavy attacks, pretty normal setup for a game like this.
What made it feel different was the impact! Some games tend to miss this important feature. When you hit an enemy here, the sound, the feel of the rumble in your controller and the vibrations on the screen show you that your character has real power. The type of impact that make you go "ooooooh" or "ouch, that look like it hurt!". I can not stress enough how much impact helps complete a games full experience. Not only did you react like that when an enemy is was hit, but again as you watch them soar through the air and crash into a wall, breaking it down!
Lets watch this video so you can get some type of semblance of how it feels to play this wonderful game!
It's funny how when you enter an environment how pretty it is and when you leave, it is a destroyed husk of it's former self. That is what makes this game so great!
Last cool thing about the characters is that they have 3 different weapons each(Raikoh has 4) and 3 costumes.
Otogi 2's combat system maybe be considered generic hack n slash gameplay, but they way it was implemented into the destruction made it feel so much greater then the norm. You had your quick light attacks and your slower but powerful heavy attacks, pretty normal setup for a game like this.
What made it feel different was the impact! Some games tend to miss this important feature. When you hit an enemy here, the sound, the feel of the rumble in your controller and the vibrations on the screen show you that your character has real power. The type of impact that make you go "ooooooh" or "ouch, that look like it hurt!". I can not stress enough how much impact helps complete a games full experience. Not only did you react like that when an enemy is was hit, but again as you watch them soar through the air and crash into a wall, breaking it down!
Lets watch this video so you can get some type of semblance of how it feels to play this wonderful game!
It's funny how when you enter an environment how pretty it is and when you leave, it is a destroyed husk of it's former self. That is what makes this game so great!
Final Thought
RICHAAAAAAARRRRRRD!
RICHAAAAAAARRRRRRD!
That Richard line under the final thought is said by the main character from "Metal Wolf Chaos". It is also made by From Software. It was made after Otogi and had a similar "destruction game play" aspect. Sadly, it never came to America (Despite having cheesy fully English voice overs). If I had played it more, it would be a dream sequel post.
The point I am making is that games like this are few in far between. A lot of Next gen games have great graphics, but don't have that "Smack your enemy around and destroy the world around you" game play.
If you can't find a copy of Otogi or Otogi 2, then I suggest you try Red Faction: Guerrilla and Earth Defense Force(EDF! EDF!) for Xbox 360(even if you can find Otogi 1 & 2, still play these games!). They both are great games. Also, Red Faction to me is THE game that is paving the way for more games like Otogi to be made again. It has gotten great reviews and sold pretty darn good. So hopefully companies will notice that game play like Otogi's is greatly appreciated!
The point I am making is that games like this are few in far between. A lot of Next gen games have great graphics, but don't have that "Smack your enemy around and destroy the world around you" game play.
If you can't find a copy of Otogi or Otogi 2, then I suggest you try Red Faction: Guerrilla and Earth Defense Force(EDF! EDF!) for Xbox 360(even if you can find Otogi 1 & 2, still play these games!). They both are great games. Also, Red Faction to me is THE game that is paving the way for more games like Otogi to be made again. It has gotten great reviews and sold pretty darn good. So hopefully companies will notice that game play like Otogi's is greatly appreciated!
Preview
Year of the fighter, let it continue!
Year of the fighter, let it continue!
This year has been considered "Year of the fighter" with all of the fighting games coming out. So lets make our next sequel(or in this case, another trilogy) a fighting game I haven't played in ages but still fondly remeber. Join me and Akira Toriyama's Designs as we take a look at Tobal 2(one of the few import games I got a hold of)! Let the Trilogies continue!
